According to Spanish authorities, four people have been detained in relation to the hanging of an effigy of Real Madrid player Vinicius Jr. in January.
An inflatable doll wearing a Vinicius Jr. shirt surfaced under one of the bridges in the Spanish capital, prompting authorities to open a hate crime investigation.
‘Madrid hates Real Madrid’ is written on a banner that was hung next to the effigy.
Before Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey match versus Atletico Madrid, the incident took place.
Four guys from an ultras organization were detained, according to Spanish police, three of them had already been “identified during matches classified as high risk.”
According to a police statement, “the investigation started on January 26 after the appearance of an inflatable mannequin hanging from a bridge wearing a Real Madrid player Vinicius shirt.”
Additionally, a 16-meter banner bearing the words “Madrid hates Real” was put up in the same location.
“Four males were identified as the accused perpetrators of the events as a result of the investigations conducted by the investigators using traces, witnesses, or discussions with open sources, among other methods.
Additionally, the agents were able to confirm that three of the suspected culprits belonged to a gang of Madrid club ultras and that they had previously been recognized during matches that were deemed to be high risk under the sport violence prevention laws.
In a coordinated operation with the Investigating Court number 38 of Madrid and the Cyberhate Section of the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, a device was used this morning to enable the arrest of the four alleged perpetrators.
In January, LaLiga, Atletico Madrid, and Real Madrid all denounced the event.
During their match at the Civitas Metropolitano on September 18, 2022, Vinicius Jnr had earlier come under attack from Atletico supporters who allegedly branded him a “monkey.”
The most recent instance of the Brazilian’s racial insults this season happened during Real’s 1-0 loss to Valencia on Sunday.
At the Mestalla Stadium, he was the target of racial chants both before and during the game.
After the game, Vinicius Jnr delivered a scathing critique of LaLiga and the Spanish Football Federation, saying that after having a league that was once the envy of Europe, Spanish football has now reached a new low.
“It wasn’t the first time, second time, or third time. In LaLiga, racism is accepted, according to Vinicius Jr.
“The opposition supports it, the competition thinks it’s normal, and the Federation agrees.” So sorry again.
“Racists now own the championship that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano, and Messi.” A stunning country that I adore and that welcomed me consented to project the stereotype of a racist society to the rest of the globe.
I’m sorry for the Spaniards who disagree, but in Brazil today, Spain is viewed as a racist nation. And regrettably, I have no excuses for anything that occurs each week. I concur. But I am a strong person, and I will fight racism until the bitter end. even though it is far away.
Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Federation, has acknowledged that racism is a “serious problem” and has vowed to do everything in his power to address it.
According to LaLiga president Javier Tebas, Vinicius Jr.’s criticism of the league was “very unfair” and that “neither Spain nor LaLiga are racist.”
Vinicius Jr. made a stinging statement on Monday, calling the treatment he has endured this season “inhuman” and revealing that he has also been the target of death threats.
